Ryan Smith

[Tevez]

From Vital Football:

Ryan Smith, the young winger touted as potentially one of Leicester City's finest, albeit temporary, signings when he arrived on loan, is believed to have returned to Arsenal.

The news is totally unconfirmed and remains an unofficial website rumour, but it virtually coincides with Leicester signing 23-year-old left winger Andy Welsh on loan until the end of the season from Sunderland.

Smith has not featured much at all since Rob Kelly took over as City manager, having suffered loss of form, illness and, it was claimed, a thigh injury.

It was expected that he might make an appearance at Ipswich last week but his expected place on the bench went to Momo Sylla.

Even this week that was put down to injury but there were also tales of a falling out between Kelly and Smith which offers credit to the brief claims posted on Vitalfootball Leicester City late yesterday evening that Smith will be returning home to London and back to Arsenal.

Vitalfootball has e-mailed Leicester City for confirmation or otherwise of Smith's departure.

Smith made his City debut away at Derby and transformed the pattern of the game. He became a crowd favourite towards Christmas and scored in the brilliant 4-2 win over second in the table Sheffield United.

He made 12 starts for City but since the Sheffield match had only featured as a substitute apart from the January Cup games against Spurs and Southampton.

Ironically City fans had generally rejoiced when his loan, which was originally due to end around Christmas, was extended until the end of the season by Craig Levein shortly before he was replaced as manager.

[davieG]

That's about as near as you'll get to the answer at the moment!

[Tevez]

If it is true do you think ryan will be missed?

[Milky]

he thinks he's billy big spuds around the place, feels he's a big time charlie. it's that sort of attitude that has done his relationship with kelly harm. he struts around like a real show pony. alledgedly. i don't mind him going, he was never going to be a permanent signing so let's play players that are likely to be here next season seeing as though we are almost safe.

[Matt]

If it is true do you think ryan will be missed?

Yes and no.

He has been good for Leicester and he's a cracking player although towards his last spell of games he did seem abit poor, if we could afford him i'd like to have seen him here perminent. BUT the games we have played without him - have we really missed him that much? Not really IMO.

[Cat Burger]

he thinks he's billy big spuds around the place, feels he's a big time charlie. it's that sort of attitude that has done his relationship with kelly harm. he struts around like a real show pony. i don't mind him going, he was never going to be a permanent signing so let's play players that are likely to be here next season seeing as though we are almost safe.

Mr Insider?

[Thracian]

Mr Insider?

If you want "inside" there was a whole group of the young players milling around the Ladbrokes City betting shelf pre-match - Sheehan, Doddsy, Weso, Levi and several others and Smithy was nowhere to be seen nor was he with the youth players in their seats next to the players tunnel.

The source of the Vitalfootball story has been singularly accurate so far. City have still not confirmed or denied the story officially.

[AyewJoking]

Why would Smith be with the other youngsters? He's first team squad.

[Thracian]

Why would Smith be with the other youngsters? He's first team squad.

So are Weso and Sheehan but I didn't see him around the players tunnel either nor was he included in the pre-match training group. Did anyone see him at the game?

[Jimmy]

So are Weso and Sheehan but I didn't see him around the players tunnel either nor was he included in the pre-match training group. Did anyone see him at the game?

according to the sun he had a thigh strain

[Jonbluefox9]

he thinks he's billy big spuds around the place, feels he's a big time charlie. it's that sort of attitude that has done his relationship with kelly harm. he struts around like a real show pony. alledgedly. i don't mind him going, he was never going to be a permanent signing so let's play players that are likely to be here next season seeing as though we are almost safe.

I've heard similar things from people who have met him. Can't say I've met him myself but if these types of reports are true, and I believe they are, then I can't say he'll be terribly missed. Maybe a pointer towards Smith's bad attitude is the way Rob Kelly emphasised how much Welsh, and Brevett too, wants to play for Leicester. Might be a disguised way of saying some players at the club haven't shown the same passion towards the team spirit like Smith?

Saw Sheehan walking to the game and spitting on the pavement. I know you can't expect footballers to be role models all the time but it's not very nice to see anyone spitting on the pavement especially when there's smaller children walking around the ground at the same time. Luckily hardly anyone seemed to recognise him so I can't see children following his example. Moan over.

[Manwell Pablo]

So are Weso and Sheehan but I didn't see him around the players tunnel either nor was he included in the pre-match training group. Did anyone see him at the game?

No

You think he's first team. theres a big diffence.

[Anish]

If you want "inside" there was a whole group of the young players milling around the Ladbrokes City betting shelf pre-match - Sheehan, Doddsy, Weso, Levi and several others and Smithy was nowhere to be seen nor was he with the youth players in their seats next to the players tunnel.

The source of the Vitalfootball story has been singularly accurate so far. City have still not confirmed or denied the story officially.

I doubt Leicester or any other football club would bother to confirm or deny any baseless speculation - there's more important things in running a football club than confirming who's mates with who and where they are on matchdays if they aren't playing.

[Anish]

If it is true do you think ryan will be missed?

No.

[Flemmish]

Have to agree with you Anish, we have proved that we can play well and carve out victories without the need of Smith. Also, like people have said before, no player is bigger than the club.

[Cat Burger]

But we don't know what he's like do we? Hoof says he's met him and he's ok, and I believe him more than friggin Bluearmy5...But that's just me.

[Babylon]

So are Weso and Sheehan

But they gre up with the ones mentioned and smith didn't.

[Thracian]

But they gre up with the ones mentioned and smith didn't.

I quite agree Babylon. I only made the point because I didn't see him around and wondered if someone might have come back to say I was mistaken.

[Thracian]

I doubt Leicester or any other football club would bother to confirm or deny any baseless speculation - there's more important things in running a football club than confirming who's mates with who and where they are on matchdays if they aren't playing.

I was simply being responsible in trying to convey Leicester's current position in the matter. As I have a fair idea who the tip came from I would never call it "baseless". I have referred to it as website speculation because, until anything is confirmed or otherwise, that is what it is. Like anyone else the guy could be mistaken but I have seen/heard no evidence of it.

[Bert]

The Groundsman said he has been training all week and he is a really sound guy.

[Thracian]

The Groundsman said he has been training all week and he is a really sound guy.

I've never thought he isn't. The questions remain though, has he upset Kelly, was he at the match yesterday and has he/is he going back to Arsenal?.

Personally I'd love our tip-off to be wrong. Two creative wingers like Welsh and Smith to use singly or together would suit me fine. Perhaps Manwell would even want to watch the whole match then.